Chapter 4
I stared at Aaliyah.
"You went to the doctor?"
She nodded.
My heart was racing.
"When?"
"Three weeks ago."
I swallowed.
"Without telling me?"
Her eyes filled.
"Jordan, I didn't know what was happening."
I looked away.
For a moment, I felt hurt.
Not because she'd seen a doctor.
But because she'd been frightened enough to keep something important from me.
Then I reminded myself that her body was changing.
She was the one experiencing the symptoms.
She was the one who had been threatened by her mother.
I took a breath.
"What did the doctor say?"
Aaliyah looked down.
"They thought I might have a stomach infection."
I frowned.
"Okay."
"They gave me advice and told me to come back if I didn't improve."
I nodded slowly.
"Then you took the pregnancy test?"
She nodded.
"The first one was faint."
I swallowed.
"And the second?"
"Positive."
I stared at her.
For a moment, I felt relief.
At least there wasn't another terrible secret.
But then Aaliyah whispered, "I'm scared something could be wrong."
My heart tightened.
I moved closer.
"Why?"
She looked at her hands.
"Because I've been feeling sick for weeks."
I swallowed.
"We'll get you checked."
Her eyes filled.
"Together?"
I nodded.
"Together."
The next morning, Dad helped us arrange an appointment with a medical professional.
He didn't insist on attending.
He simply offered transportation.
Aaliyah asked me to go with her.
I agreed immediately.
At the clinic, we sat in the waiting room holding hands.
My leg wouldn't stop bouncing.
Aaliyah looked at me.
"Jordan."
I turned.
"Yeah?"
"You're making me nervous."
I looked down.
Then laughed weakly.
"Sorry."
She smiled for the first time in two days.
"You're worse than me."
I shook my head.
"Impossible."
She squeezed my hand.
For a moment, we laughed.
Then her name was called.
We followed the nurse into an examination room.
The clinician asked about Aaliyah's symptoms.
Her last menstrual period.
Her general health.
Any pain or bleeding.
Aaliyah answered carefully.
I listened.
I realized how much I didn't know.
About pregnancy.
About medical care.
About what her body might experience.
I felt embarrassed.
But the clinician was patient.
She explained that the pregnancy would need to be dated and assessed appropriately.
She also discussed warning signs that would require urgent medical attention.
Aaliyah nodded.
I asked questions.
Probably too many.
But nobody laughed.
When the appointment ended, we had a follow-up plan.
Aaliyah looked relieved.
So did I.
Outside, we sat in Dad's car.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she looked at me.
"Jordan?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you still scared?"
I laughed softly.
"Terrified."
She smiled.
"Me too."
I took her hand.
"At least we're scared together."
She leaned against my shoulder.
For a moment, I felt hopeful.
Then my phone rang.
Mom.
I answered.
"Hey."
Her voice was sharp.
"Where are you?"
"At the clinic."
Silence.
Then she said, "With Aaliyah?"
"Yes."
Mom sighed.
"Jordan, we need to talk."
I looked toward Aaliyah.
"About what?"
"Your father."
My stomach tightened.
"What about him?"
Mom lowered her voice.
"He's making decisions without discussing them with me."
I frowned.
"Like what?"
"Paying for appointments. Offering housing. Acting like this is his responsibility."
I took a breath.
"Mom, he's helping us."
She scoffed.
"He's enabling you."
I looked away.
"That's not fair."
Her voice hardened.
"Don't lecture me."
I swallowed.
"Mom, please."
She continued.
"Your father and I worked too hard to let you throw your future away."
My chest tightened.
"I haven't thrown anything away."
"Then prove it."
I hesitated.
"How?"
She took a breath.
"Come home. Alone."
I looked at Aaliyah.
She was watching me.
I swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because I need to speak to my son without that girl influencing him."
My jaw tightened.
"Don't call her that."
Mom went silent.
Then she laughed bitterly.
"Oh, so now you're defending her against me?"
I closed my eyes.
I loved my mother.
But I was beginning to realize that loving her didn't mean agreeing with everything she said.
"Mom, I'm coming home with Aaliyah."
Her voice became cold.
"Then don't expect me to make things easy."
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Aaliyah looked frightened.
"What did she say?"
I swallowed.
"She wants me to come home alone."
Aaliyah looked down.
"Maybe you should."
My chest tightened.
"What?"
She shrugged.
"I don't want to come between you and your mom."
I stared at her.
"Aaliyah, we're having a baby."
Her eyes filled.
"I know."
I moved closer.
"That doesn't mean I stop loving my parents."
She nodded.
"But it also doesn't mean I abandon you."
She started crying.
I held her.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
When we returned home, Dad was waiting in the kitchen.
He looked concerned.
"How did it go?"
I explained the appointment.
He listened carefully.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Mom stood near the sink.
She didn't look at Aaliyah.
Dad noticed.
"Denise?"
She turned.
"What?"
"Can we speak privately?"
Mom folded her arms.
"About what?"
Dad glanced toward us.
"Later."
Her expression hardened.
I felt the tension rising.
Aaliyah squeezed my hand.
I wanted to say something.
But before I could, Mom looked directly at her.
"How long do you plan to stay here?"
Aaliyah froze.
I stepped forward.
"Mom."
She ignored me.
"I'm asking a question."
Dad's voice became firm.
"Denise, stop."
Mom stared at him.
"What?"
He looked at her.
"You're not going to interrogate her in my kitchen."
Mom's face changed.
For a moment, she looked stunned.
Then she laughed bitterly.
"So now I'm the villain?"
Dad took a breath.
"No. But you're making this harder than it needs to be."
Mom turned toward me.
"Jordan, tell your father what you said last month."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
She folded her arms.
"You told me you weren't ready for a serious relationship."
Aaliyah slowly turned toward me.
Her face went pale.
"Jordan?"
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Because I remembered that conversation.
And I knew exactly how Mom was about to use it against me.
